Reportage

France: in Paris, rally for the release of the 7 French people detained in Iran

Audio 01:10

Portraits of French detainees in Iran Fariba Adelkhah, Cécile Kohler and Benjamin Brière, during a demonstration in support of French nationals detained in Iran, at the Trocadéro in Paris, this Saturday January 28, 2023. AFP - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In France, dozens of people gathered this Saturday, January 28 in front of the Eiffel Tower, to demand the release of the seven French people detained in Iran.

Some have been held for years.

Tehran reproaches them for most of the acts of espionage while their family proclaims the innocence of each.

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Report by 

Pierre Olivier

“ 

We demand their immediate and unconditional release, every day more is a day too much. 

»

On a platform, facing the crowd, Noémie Kohler speaks.

She is the sister of Cécile Kohler, arrested and imprisoned in Iran for almost ten months while she was on vacation. 

Today, the families of the seven hostages want to break the silence.

Noémie Kohler: “

We need to alert public opinion and, in fact, we hope that our support actions will reach them to give them strength. 

»

Noémie Kohler, sister of Cécile currently detained in Iran

Pierre Olivier

These French, described as innocent by their relatives, would serve as bargaining chips and a means of pressure for the Revolutionary Guards.

Jean-Michel Arnaud is the father of Louis Arnaud, imprisoned for four months while he was visiting Iran, " 

he is in a cell about fifteen meters long, with sixty or a hundred detainees

 ".

Eyes are now on the European Union.

Sandrine Perrot is a friend of

Fariba Adelkhah

, detained since 2019. “ 

We still hope that there will be more Europeanized pressure because Europe's silence for the moment is quite deafening.

We realize that with the number of European hostages, there is no united action. 

»

For its part, the Quai d'Orsay ensures that it is fully mobilized to obtain the release of the seven French people.

► To read also: United States: charges for attempted murder against Iranian-American Masih Alinejad

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  • Justice